Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science)
Online ISSN : 1881-526X
Print ISSN : 0385-437X
ISSN-L : 0385-437X
Volume 54, Issue 2
Displaying 1-13 of 13 articles from this issue
Original Articles
  • Tatsuki Shimamoto, Ryuji G. Furukawa, Kei Suzuki, Hisashi Yanagawa
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 201-206
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    There is concern about population decline and local population extinction of the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans because of forest fragmentation in Finland, Estonia, and South Korea. Our goal was to confirm a simple and efficient method of determining the presence of the squirrels to monitor the effects of forest fragmentation. We searched for their feces in 11 fragmented forests. We set 12 transects, each 10 m long and 4 m wide, randomly in each forest and searched for feces within each transect. First, to characterize the places where feces were found, we measured the distance between the fecal sample and the closest tree, along with the diameter at breast height (DBH) of that tree. All fecal samples that we found were close to large trees. Therefore, we found that it was efficient to search for feces mainly within 20 cm of such trees. Second, to assess the impact of forest size on search success, we evaluated the relationship between the number of transects on which we found feces and forest size. The number was unrelated to forest size. Therefore, we did not need to change our effort according to forest size. Furthermore, we found that five transects per forest gave valid results for squirrel presence.
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  • Masahiko Asada
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 207-218
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Raccoon population size (Procyon lotor) and the conversion factor from CPUE to raccoon density were estimated using Bayesian removal sampling methods based on a state-space model with capture records from a high density area in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Raccoons had been captured via pest control in the Shiota River basin (35.1 km2) in Isumi City, Chiba prefecture, from June 22, 2012 to March 23, 2013 with 100 cage traps (mean nearest distance was 301 m). Fifty three adult males, 29 adult females and 55 juveniles (total 137 raccoons) were captured via pest control. The population size of each age-sex class was estimated as 89 adult males, 103 adult females and 130 juveniles (total 322 raccoons). Although more than 76% of adult females and juveniles could be removed using 100 cage traps in the first three months of the pest control, the density of adult males was maintained throughout the whole control period. We suggest that unchanged density of male raccoons can be maintained by the dispersal of young male raccoons from their natal areas, and of nomadic adult male raccoons from adjacent areas.
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  • —Application of Theory of Planned Behavior and Wildlife Acceptance Capacity Model—
    Ryo Sakurai, Hiroto Enari, Naoko Matsuda, Tetsuya Maruyama
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 219-230
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Human-wildlife conflicts have become the common issues in agricultural communities and in Japanese mountain villages. Understanding not only the ecological aspects of wildlife, but also the social aspects of the problem is important to mitigate the issues. Social-psychology is an academic discipline which aims to understand and predict people’s attitudes and behaviors. We conducted a questionnaire survey at Myojin district of Nikko city and Fukahodo district of Kanuma city in Tochigi prefecture to test two theories: the Theory of Planned Behaviors (TPB) and the Wildlife Acceptance Capacity Model (WAC), as well as additional factors (perception of government performance, perception of district issues, socio-demographics, and experience of damage), to understand and predict residents’ attitudes and behaviors regarding wildlife issues. We found that subjective norm was the only factor of TPB that significantly explained residents’ behavioral intentions in both districts, while factors of WAC (risk perception and attitudes toward wildlife) significantly explained residents’ acceptance capacity toward wildlife in one district. Additional variables such as damage experience and age significantly explained people’s behavioral intentions and acceptance capacity toward wildlife, suggesting the importance of using not only factors of theories and models but also various other factors to make more accurate predictions. The characteristics of the region, and the specific residents, need to be reflected in outreach programs to be effective.
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  • Kazuki Suda, Jun-ichi Morita
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 231-241
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In this study, we applied multiple discriminant analysis to the footprint recording method to identify three rodent species, Apodemus speciosus, A. argenteus, and Microtus montebelli. We used captured wild animals in the laboratory to obtain footprints. For A. speciosus, the analysis indicated a high percentage of correct answers (more than 90%) with both front and hind footprints. For M. montebelli, our results revealed 85% correct answers with front footprint and over 90% with the hind footprint. For A. argenteus, however, our results showed a low percentage of correct answers, 20% with the front footprint and approximately 60% with the hind footprint, and most of the incorrect answers were erroneously discriminated to M. montebelli. We also compared captures and footprint abundance obtained via live trapping and footprint recording methods with multiple discriminant analysis, respectively, in the Oku-Nikko area of Tochigi Prefecture in 2009. Both abundance estimates of M. montebelli were significantly correlated. In contrast, both abundance estimates of A. speciosus and A. argenteus were not significantly correlated. Though the footprint recording method cannot be used to estimate rodent abundance immediately, the method would be valuable, considering its cost and effectiveness.
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  • Kei Suzuki, Yutaka Yamane, Hisashi Yanagawa
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 243-249
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Sympatric species with similar ecological characteristics can change their selection of resources to avoid competition. To gain knowledge to clarify the mechanisms of this avoidance, we surveyed nest height change of the small Japanese field mouse Apodemus argenteus to avoid competition with the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans, which, like the mice, nests in tree cavities. We used two types of nest boxes: one with a small-sized entrance that only the mouse can use, and another with a large-sized entrance usable by both rodent species. The heights of the two types of nest boxes used by mice were compared. Mice nested in small-entrance boxes at various heights. Among the large entrance boxes, however, they only nested in those placed at relatively low heights. Generally, predation risk to cavity nesters increases with decreasing nest height, and larger entrances allow raids by potential predators. Thus, it is not likely that the mice prefer to nest in large entrance boxes installed at lower heights where predation risks are expected to be higher. These results suggest that small Japanese field mice change their nest height to avoid nesting resource competition with Siberian flying squirrels.
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Short Communications
  • Kaoru Kohyama, Tokuma Yanai, Ayako Noda, Akira Hashimoto
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 251-256
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We report a case of alimentary lymphoma in a northern fur seal kept in Izu Mito Sea Paradise. At necropsy, a perforatedulcer approximately 7 cm in diameter and 3 cm deep was observed on the mucous of bottom of the stomach. The thick end of the stomach wall around the ulcer was diagnosed histopathologically as lymphoma. This case is the first supposed case of alimentary lymphoma in the northern fur seal.
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  • Saori Imon, Itsuki Adachi, Satoshi Kusuda, Atushi Taniguchi, Mizuki Ka ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 257-264
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In this study, we observed the behavior and measured fecal oestradiol-17β content in four captive females. To investigate the influence of voice and odor of other cheetahs on the behavior and physiology of females, a group of cheetahs was released daily, one at a time, alternatively into an outdoor enclosure. Changing to the release of one male and one female, from the release of two females at a time, was associated with an increase in the oestradiol-17β content and behavior in female cheetahs. We divided the period by the presence or absence of nursing individuals to investigate the reproductive status of a female or the effect of one estrous female on another. When nursing females were kept in the same institution both behavior and oestradiol-17β level of other females increased. When nursing cheetahs weren’t kept in the same institution, the behavior of other females showed random fluctuations, and oestradiol-17β became inactive. We suggest that the estrous condition of a female cheetah is induced by the olfactory contact with males. Moreover, the presence of a pregnant or nursing female in the same institution may also influence the physiology and behavior of other females in the same institution.
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Reports
  • Hitoho Yatake
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 265-268
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    During a 12-year survey, I directly observed eight cases of reproductive events of Japanese squirrels (Sciurus lis): one case of mating bouts, one case of copulation, two cases of carrying young, three cases of lactation, and one case of maternal behavior out of the nest at three sites in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture (35°N, 139–140°E, elevation 10–30 m). The results suggest that the species reproduces twice a year in the study area. Reproductive schedules are estimated as follows; the first breeding season: copulation in January–March, birth in February–April, independence of young in May–July; and the second breeding season: copulation in late June, birth in August, independence of young in October. Compared with the previous studies carried out at Takao, Tokyo (35°N, 139°E, 170–265 m) and at Tateshina plateau, Nagano Prefecture (36°N, 138°E, 1,500–1,600 m), we confirm that the Japanese squirrel reproduces twice a year in lowlands and hills of the Kanto region and mountainous areas of the Chubu region.
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  • Masanori Sugiyama, Seishi Kadowaki*
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 269-277
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: January 30, 2015
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The Japanese dormouse (Glirulus japonicus) inhabits Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Dogo Island of the Oki Islands, but studies on its distribution in the whole of Japan are few. In this study, we looked for evidence of the presence of the dormouse throughout Japan by using several Web-based search engines, and then made a nationwide distribution map of Japanese dormice. Web content about dormouse observations tended to increase year by year, with most information collected from Chubu, followed by Kanto and Tohoku. On the other hand, little information was obtained from Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Kinki. The difference in abundance of dormouse Web content across districts seemed to relate to the proportion of high elevation area (over 1,000 m) in each district rather than that of forest area. Although Web content on observed dormice was obtained all the year round, in summer more information on dormice was seen whereas in winter less information was seen. We conclude that Web-based searches for dormouse observations may be an effective means of quantifying its distribution.
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Report on 2014 Annual Meeting of Mammal Society of Japan (Kyoto University)
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